Deep submersible power assembly

ABSTRACT

A deep sea power unit for performing a variety of work operations at substantially unlimited depths on the ocean floor. Power components are enclosed in a fluid-filled casing and an external pressurizing means is exposed to ambient sea pressure and is also subjected to the weight of the apparatus to assure at all times a positive pressure differential in the component casing and the exclusion of sea water therefrom.

United States Patent u mm f .r t e nee IDS b nU n S e ne O u uul LMLLLG 48 389 556666 999999 111111 608 96 1 9 90 2 280 45 277207 859704 ,9 ,3 222333 0 r wo Primary Examiner Henry F. Raduazo Att0rneyB. P. Fishburne, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A deep sea power unit for performing a variety of work operations at substantially unlimited depths on the ocean floor. Power components are enclosed in a fluid-filled casing and an external pressurizing means is exposed to ambient sea pressure and is also subjected to the weight of the apparatus to assure at all times a positive pressure differential in the component casing and the exclusion of sea water therefrom.

[54 DEEP SUBMERSIBLE POWER ASSEMBLY 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[51] Int.

[50] Field PATENTED JAN 5197! FIGI INVENTOR CLEMENT WALKER WESTON, JR.

FIG

, l DEEP SUBMERSIBLE POWER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the ever-increasing exploration of theocean floor at great depths, there has developed a critical and as yet unsatisfied need for a practical and reliable power unit capable of operating various tools and manipulators at substantially 1 unlimited depths and with the ability to exclude sea water at these depths.

The present invention relates to a basic submersible power unit for operating any of a variety of instrumentalities which need to be employed on the floor of the ocean. The invention is not concerned with the details of these instrumentalities per se or with the details of power components per se which may vary considerably. The inventionwill be disclosed in' terms of a simplified fluid -pressure-operated power system contained in a fluid-filled casing, said casing being in communication with pressurizing meansoutside of the casing exposed to arribient sea pressure. Additionally, the outside pressurizing means bears the weight of the power unit and the effect of the weight assures a'positive pressure differential in the unit casing at all times, thus rendering it virtually impossible for sea water to enter the unit casing. 3

Additional details, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic side elevation of a submersible power unit embodying the invention. 1

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, partlyin section, showing a modification of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3. v

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

Referring first-to. FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, the numeral designates a sturdy cylindrical unit casing having upper and lower closure I rigidly interconnecting these legs. The frame is equipped at its top with a sturdy lifting eye 16, as shown. The lower ring 15 is adapted to rest at proper times on the ocean floor or the like. The upper cap 11 of the unit casing is stabilized and guided vertically within the external frame by means of diametrically opposed pairs of lugs 17 on the upper cap 11, each pair straddling and slidably receiving a stationary lug 18 on the adjacent leg 13.

The lower closure cap 12 has rigidly secured thereto and de pending therefrom a pistonlike element or plunger 19 containing a central axial pressure transfer tube or passage 20 in direct communication with the interior of the unit casing 10 which is completely filled with oil or like liquid. The plunger 19 is received telescopically within an upstanding restrainer sleeve 21 rigid-with the lower ring structure 15 and provided near its lower end'with a vent opening 22 in communication with ambient sea pressure. Within the sleeve 21 is a bellows 23 whose lower end is closed and whose top end is coupled to the transfer tube 20 rigidly so that'the interior of the bellows receives and is filled with the same oil'that fills the unit casing having a power cable 25 extending through a suitable hull penetrator 26 in the cap 11. A pump 27 is suitably coupled to the motor and the pump may have an inlet strainer 28 and a relief valve 29 between the outlet of the pump and the outlet fitting 30 of the power unit. A fluid return fitting is indicated at 31. The fittings 30 and 31 connect with external lines, not shown, leading to whatever external mechanism it is desired to operate at great depths under the sea-These mechanisms per se form no part of the present invention and may be conventional or special mechanisms. It should also be understood that the power components in the unit casing 10 may, in actual practice, he more sophisticated than the simplified schematic bellows. The weight will always pressurize the oil in the bellows and casing 10 to a positive pressure above ambient sea pressure so that it will be impossible for sea water to leak into the apparatus. The position of the apparatus can be seen to give an indication of the relative internal pressure, and the degree of fullness of the system. It is therefore quite simple to instrument the unit to produce a signal if leakage permits the casing 10 and associated parts to settle relative to the surrounding frame.

FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings show a modification of the invention based on the same weight pressurizing principle employed in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the specific pressurizing means are somewhat different. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the casing 10 and power components 24, 27, 28 and 29 and associated parts may be identical to the corresponding parts described in the prior embodiment. Also, the stabilizing framework surrounding the casing 10 is basically identical to that shown in FIG. I with the exception that the lower end of the framework is formed by a preferably L-shaped base ring 32 welded to the bottoms of the legs 13, as shown. Within the confines of the base ring 32 is a hollow annulus 33 formed of flexible material and connected by a pressure transfer hose 34 with the interior of the oil-filled casing 10, such oil also filling the transfer hose and flexible annulus. The outsideof the annulus is exposed to ambient sea pressure.

The weight of the casing 10 and associated components is transferred to the annulus 33 through legs 35 having their tops rigidly secured to the lower cap 12 and their bottoms similarly secured to a rigid bearing ring 36 which directly engages the annulus. It may be seen that with this arrangement the weight of the apparatus always acts on the annulus 33 so as to pressurize the oil in the oil-filled system to a degree above ambient sea pressure at any depth. The broad operation and the purpose of the invention is identical to the operation and purpose in FIGS. 1 and 2. I

It is believed that the important features and advantages of the invention will now be clear to those skilled in the art without further description.

. fluid, and means interconnecting said casing and pressure 10. The bellows is restrained by the sleeve 21 but through the vent opening 22 is subjected externally-to ambient sea pres- SHIC.

Within the oil-filled casing 10 are mounted the desired power components which may include an electric motor 24 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the pressure transmitter includes a bellows substantially filled with said fluid in said casing, a tubular plunger element interconnecting the bellows and casing and having its bore communicating with both and serving to transmit the weight of the casing to the bellows, and means to restrain the bellows and to guide the plunger element and-having a vent opening to ambient sea pressure allowing such pressure to act on the exterior of the bellows.

4. The structure of claim 3, and said last-named means is a sleeve having a bore receiving the bellows therein and also receiving said plunger element substantially in axial alignment with the bellows so that the bellows will be compressed sub stantially axially when the weight of the casing is transferred thereto by the plunger element.

5. The structure of claim 4, and a stabilizing framework for said casing substantially surrounding it and having a rigid connection with said sleeve and another connection with the easing allowing relative movement between the framework and casing in a generally vertical direction.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein said pressure transmitter comprises a somewhat flexible hollow body having a direct connection with the interior of said casing and receiving and being substantially filled with the fluid in the casing, and

means transmitting the weight of the casing and all components carried thereby to said flexible hollow body.

7. The structure of claim 6, wherein the flexible hollow body is an annular tube and a transfer tube. connecting the annular tube with the interior of the casing. I v v 8. The structure of claimK7, and a pressure ring bearing upon said annular tube, and meansinterconnecting the pressure ring and casing and transmitting the weight of the casing to the pressure ring.

9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said transmitter means includes a somewhat flexible hollow body having its interior in communication with the unit casing and receiving the fluid in the unit casing, and said means transferring the weight of the casing including a compression member carried by the unit casing and engaging and compressing the hollow body.

0. The structure of claim 9, and a stabilizing frame for the power unit having a movable connection wherewith whereby said casing may move relative to the frame in transferring its weight to said hollow body.

11. The structure of claim 10, and means on said frame to facilitate lifting it bodily with said casing and said hollow body. 

1. A submersible power unit for use at great depths underwater comprising a unit casing containing power components and being filled substantially with a fluid, a fluid pressure transmitter means in communication with said casing and fluid, and means interconnecting said casing and pressure transmitter means and transferring the weight of the casing to the transmitter means to thereby maintain at all times a positive-pressure differential within the casing and the fluid therein.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and a stabilizing framework for said casing including a connection permitting limited relative movement between the framework and casing and said framework having a base portion capable of resting on the ocean floor.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the pressure transmitter includes a bellows substantially filled with said fluid in said casing, a tubular plunger element interconnecting the bellows and casing and having its bore communicating with both and serving to transmit the weight of the casing to the bellows, and means to restrain the bellows and to guide the plunger element and having a vent opening to ambient sea pressure allowing such pressure to act on the exterior of the bellows.
 4. The structure of claim 3, and said last-named means is a sleeve having a bore receiving the bellows therein and also receiving said plunger element substantially in axial alignment with the bellows so that the bellows will be compressed substantially axially when the weight of the casing is transferred thereto by the plunger element.
 5. The structure of claim 4, and a stabilizing framework for said casing substantially surrounding it and having a rigid connection with said sleeve and another connection with the casing allowing relative movement between the framework and casing in a generally vertical direction.
 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein said pressure transmitter comprises a somewhat flexible hollow body having a direct connection with the interior of said casing and receiving and being substantially filled with the fluid in the casing, and means transmitting the weight of the casing and all components carried thereby to said flexible hollow body.
 7. The structure of claim 6, wherein the flexible hollow body is an annular tube and a transfer tube connecting the annular tube with the interior of the casing.
 8. The structure of claim 7, and a pressure ring bearing upon said annular tube, and means interconnecting the pressure ring and casing and transmitting the weight of the casing to the pressure ring.
 9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said transmitter means includes a somewhat flexible hollow body having its interior in communication with the unit casing and receiving the fluid in the unit casing, and said means transferring the weight of the casing including a compression member carried by the unit casing and engaging and compressing the hollow body.
 10. The structure of claim 9, and a stabilizing frame for the power unit having a movable connection wherewith whereby said casing may move relative to the frame in transferring its weight to said hollow body.
 11. The structure of claim 10, and means on said frame to facilitate lifting it bodily with said casing and said hollow body. 